College basketball on Tuesday night and we will see the Virginia Tech Hokies travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on the Duke Blue Devils. The game has a start time of 7:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN U. Vegas odds have the Blue Devils listed as 21.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 139.
Analysis: Virginia Tech is not having a good year at all as they come in a 9-17 over and 2-12 in the ACC. The Hokies have been competitive of late as they have played four straight games decided by seven or fewer points, after experiencing a stretch of four 20-point losses. The Hokies have struggled to score this year as they average 65.2 , which is 308th in the nation, while they shoot just 41.1% from the field to rank 317th in the nation. 3 Players do average in double figures for the Hokies, led by Jarell Eddie, who scores 13.4 ppg, while also leading the team in rebounding at 5.3 rpg. Adam Smith (11.0 ppg) and Ben Emelogu (10.8 ppg) round out the double digit scorers for this team. The Defense has not been all that bad for the Hokies as they have allowed just 68 ppg (113th) on 40.1% shooting (40th).
The Duke Blue Devils come in off a couple of tough games vs Syracuse and North Carolina and they split the two games, which now puts them at 22-6 overall and 11-4 within the ACC. The Blue Devils are not having issues on offense like the Hokies are as they come in putting up 80.1 ppg (21st) on 46.8% shooting (60th). They are also 5th in the nation in 3 point shooting, hitting 40.7% of their long range shots. Jabari Parker is the best freshman in the nation and he leads Duke with 19.1 ppg, while also leading the team in rebounding at 8.8 rpg. Rodney Hood (16.1 ppg) and Quinn Cook (12.0 ppg) round out the double digit scorers for the Blue Devils. Defensively the Blue devils allow just 66.8 ppg (88th), but on 44.6% shooting ( 233rd). Duke has won the last six meetings and 13 of the past 16.
Pick: This is one of those times when I feel this is a situational totals play. Duke is coming off of two major games vs Syracuse and North Carolina, so will thy have a loot in the tank to run up and down the court. I do think so and I don't feel they will need to cause this Virginia Tech offense is bad. The Tech offense is 309th in scoring overall, putting up just 65.2 ppg, while on the road they have averaged just 57.4 ppg on 36.5% shooting. The Hokies also shoot 29.3% from long range and 59.1% from the charity stripe on the road. This offense is horrible away from home and I will find it hard to see them put up more than 55 points. That means that Duke needs to score at least 85 for this game to go over the total. Not gonna happen. Duke does not need to to score a ton to win this game and once they get up big Im sure they will call off the dogs and use more of the clock, especially coming off of the two blockbuster games. Duke allows just 65 ppg at home and have allowed just 63.8 ppg in their last 6 games overall, while the Hokies have allowed just 75.5 ppg on the road and just 61 ppg in their last 5 games. Hokie games have gone 16-4 to the under overall and 6-0 to the under on the road. I expect no more than 132 points in this one.
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